title: Chlamydia screening in young people as an outcome of a HEADSS; Home, Education, Activities, Drug and alcohol use, Sexuality and Suicide youth psychosocial assessment tool.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the percentage of young people presenting to a primary healthcare service targeting homeless youth, in Melbourne, Australia, who, based on youth-specific Home, Education, Activities, Drug and alcohol use, Sexuality and Suicide (HEADSS) psychosocial assessment tool, were screened for the sexually transmitted infection Chlamydia and tested positive.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Homeless young people are at high risk of poor health outcomes including sexual health. Chlamydia prevalence is highest in 16-24 years. Youth psychosocial assessment tools such as the HEADSS can engage young people and provide comprehensive health assessment that identifies health risks.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective audit.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred consecutive client files of youth who presented to a primary healthcare service for the first time were selected. Client data were collected at the health services' inner city drop-in clinic and clinical refuge outreach (CRO). HEADSS assessments were made on new presentations to identify those at risk of Chlamydia. These young people were then offered screening for Chlamydia using a first-pass urine sample.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred HEADSS assessments were audited, of which 15 were incomplete. Of the 85 completed HEADSS assessments, 43 were tested and 11 had Chlamydia-positive results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Comprehensive youth assessment tools, such as the HEADSS, can provide a valuable resource in identifying sexual health risks such as Chlamydia. In turn, skilled nursing staff can provide opportunistic screening. Early identification and treatment for Chlamydia can reduce the spread and sequela of this highly infectious STI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Youth health nurses can enhance their nursing practice in working with young people at risk of homelessness and improve their health outcomes by employing youth-specific assessments.
authors.affiliation: Young People's Health Service, Centre for Adolescent Health, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Donna M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Eade
authors.forename: Dorothy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Henning
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D014739:Victoria
keywords: adolescent health; adolescents; assessment; nurse; psychosocial nursing; reproductive health; risk assessment; screening; screening tools; sexual health